The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation

SUMMER 2020

imagineThe Margie and Robert The Margie and Robert E. E.

Petersen FoundationPetersen Foundation

has given a transformational $25 million gift that honors has given a transformational $25 million gift that honors

the couple’s legacy of helping children and families.the couple’s legacy of helping children and families.

CHLA.org/ImagineSummer20

Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is the highest-ranked hospital in California and fifth in the nation on the prestigious U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll of best children’s hospitals. U.S. News ranks Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in all 10 specialty categories. Clinical care at the hospital is led by physicians who are faculty members of the Keck School of Medicine of USC through an affiliation dating from 1932. The hospital also leads the largest pediatric residency training program at a freestanding children’s hospital in the Western United States. The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals for National Institutes of Health funding.

WE CREATE HOPE AND BUILD HEALTHIER FUTURES.

Imagine Magazine

This year, we are facing a public health crisis with the novel coronavirus that is unlike anything else in our lifetimes. I have never been more grateful for our incredible caregivers, community members and supporters. They have all stepped up to meet the challenge and demonstrated what it means to unite in trying times.

At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we have focused our full attention on keeping patients, families and our team members safe. At the same time, people from around the community have reached out wanting to support our work. So we established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to address the crisis, which has required unprecedented resources to procure specialized supplies, provide health screenings and develop new care models such as telehealth to deliver our world-class care.

Throughout it all, our mission has remained unchanged—to create hope and build healthier futures for children—and our commitment has continued unabated.

In times like these, good news is a rare commodity. In that spirit, this issue of Imagine celebrates philanthropists who supported Children’s Hospital Los Angeles before COVID-19 became a household name and whose generosity continues to help advance our work. The cover story showcases the late Margie and Robert E. Petersen, who were determined to elevate the health of children and families throughout Los Angeles. We hope their dedication to improving the lives of children inspires you as well.

Additionally, this issue highlights partners with deeply personal connections to our hospital, who found a spark of hope within the shadow of adversity and used it to light the way for families facing similar circumstances. During these difficult times, we find strength in their incredible stories.

On behalf of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, I want to express my profound gratitude for the unwavering compassion of these amazing individuals and organizations, and for their steadfast support of our mission to create a better, healthier tomorrow for our precious patients and their families.

Warmest regards,

Paul S. VivianoPresident and Chief Executive Officer

CONNECT WITH PAUL

Go to CHLA.org/PaulViviano to find out more about Paul and connect with him on LinkedIn, where you can find him sharing his perspective on issues related to pediatric health care.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is:

No. 5 in the U.S.Ranked in all 10 specialties

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHLA.org/ImagineSummer20

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, we know that strong communities play a critical role in helping children and their families heal after a health crisis. There has never been a greater need for all of us to work together than during these unprecedented times—and I am so grateful for our supporters.

This issue of Imagine highlights community members who contribute at every level to our patients’ health and well-being. The cover story celebrates the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation’s longstanding partnership to support the life-affirming work conducted every day at our institution.

Each story showcases how shared passion and devotion can connect a community around a common cause. From Elisa and Michael Schenkman, who organize the annual GOFARR FunFest, to radio personality Ellen K, who hosts a live broadcast from the hospital’s lobby every year, to the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles—a collective of engaged families and advocates—these supporters rally their networks to effect positive change.

We’re also honored to highlight Vickie and Jack Pettker, who have supported the hospital for decades through multiple planned gifts as well as Jack’s service as a member of the CHLA Board of Trustees. And we feature another longtime supporter, Mary Adams O’Connell, who donated generously to the newly formed COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Finally, this issue celebrates our annual fundraising initiative, Make March Matter, which is driven by people and businesses throughout the Southland who raise funds for the institution every year during the month of March. It is a true manifestation of how we can achieve our best when we work together.

To you, our extended Children’s Hospital Los Angeles family, thank you for your enduring commitment to our mission. We are deeply grateful for your support.

Sincerely,

Alexandra CarterSenior Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Imagine

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Paul S. Viviano

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Alexandra Carter, MBA, CFRE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER Lara M. Khouri, MBA, MPH

VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Deborah A. Braidic, MABC

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC CONTENT Kelly Carolipio, MS

EDITOR Marla Lehner, MS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Sarah T. Brown

PROJECT MANAGER Lisette Campagna

ART DIRECTOR Jessica Kucinskas

DESIGN Matt Duerksen

CONTENT Sarah T. Brown, Marla Lehner, Owen Lei, Sara Nafie, Eunice Oh, Monica Rizzo,

Katie Sweeney and Jeff Weinstock

PHOTOGRAPHY Michael Becker, Leanna Creel,

Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Jimmy Choo,

Keats Elliot, Jerod Harris/Getty Images, Laurie James,

Jeff Kravitz/AMA2010/Contributor/Getty Images,

JP LeVeque, Jur Linsen, Vanessa Preziose,

Amy Rachlin, Monica Rizzo, Michael Sandler,

Michael Schenkman, Miguel Soltero,

Jonathan Stein and Walter Urie

Make sure to visit CHLA.org for more great

content!

Follow us on social @ChildrensLA

In this issueSummer 2020

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F E AT U R E S

SUPPORTING CHLA DURING THE PANDEMIC With her donation to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Mary Adams O’Connell hopes to ensure the hospital has the resources to fight the coronavirus outbreak—while continuing to care for kids in the community.

A LASTING IMPACTA transformative $25 million gift from the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation will carry on the couple’s lifelong legacy of philanthropic support.

ELLEN K: WHY I GIVEThe beloved radio personality—who hosts an annual Giving Tuesday broadcast at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles—shares her experience as a grateful patient mom.

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF MAKE MARCH MATTER Corporate partners, family businesses and individuals have raised more than $8 million for CHLA since the annual campaign started in 2016.

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HOW ONE FAMILY TURNED A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVEAfter their son was diagnosed with kidney disease, Elisa and Michael Schenkman channeled their energy into finding a cure. More than a decade and $8 million later, their efforts are paying off.

SECURING THE HOSPITAL’S FUTURE Jack Pettker, former co-Chair of CHLA’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Vickie, recently extended their contributions with a generous planned gift.

A PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO LIFE-CHANGING CAREAn endowment created by a $1.6 million gift from the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles supports education for the next generation of pediatric neurologists.

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D E PA R T M E N T S

CHLA Happenings

Upcoming Events

Board of Directors and Foundation Board of Trustees

Imagine Magazine

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DONOR PROFILE Mary Adams O’Connell

Mary Adams O’Connell has been a member of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles community for as long as she can remember. Her mother supported the hospital, and as a teenager Adams O’Connell volunteered at CHLA—an experience she will never forget.

“I remember one patient in particular, a young girl who came in without any parental support and needed surgery,” Adams O’Connell recalls. “I saw the hospital staff just wrap their arms around this child and support her. It was amazing

SUPPORTING CHLA DURING THE PANDEMIC

Mary Adams O’Connell, who donated to CHLA’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, wants to ensure the hospital has the resources to fight the coronavirus

outbreak—while continuing to care for kids in the community.

By Marla Lehner

to see. Medically, they took great care of her, but it was the emotional support that really drew me into the hospital.”

Adams O’Connell, who joined the CHLA Board of Trustees two decades ago, currently chairs the Advocacy Committee within the hospital’s Foundation Board of Trustees. Her longstanding connections to the hospital inspired her to generously support the new COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

“There’s an urgent need now for the hospital to have support,” she says. “The staff has had to adapt the way they work and implement new processes. They screen everybody who comes into the hospital, perform specialized coronavirus tests, and they have an increased need for PPE (personal protective equipment). It’s just a huge undertaking for the hospital, and I wanted to do what I could to help.”

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund allows CHLA to meet evolving needs during the outbreak, including launching lab testing, creating new safety protocols, enabling remote work capabilities, providing daily meals for employees, and developing a robust network to conduct virtual appointments.

Adams O’Connell is particularly grateful for the team members who provide

compassionate care for vulnerable kids battling chronic health conditions and life-threatening illnesses during these challenging circumstances.

“All of us know how terrific the staff are—the nurses, the doctors and everybody,” she says. “They are working so hard on behalf of patients and families who need them. It’s an amazingly difficult time for all health care workers, and it’s important that we support those folks on the front lines. They are just amazing. I can’t thank them enough for what they are doing every day.”

Adams O’Connell hopes that she can inspire others to support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to ensure it will always be there for kids, adolescents and families. “If someone can support an institution now, it should be CHLA,” she says. “The work they do there never stops, and the community needs the hospital now more than ever.”

“There’s an urgent need now for the hospital to have support.”

—Mary Adams O’Connell

GiveCHLA.org

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles appreciates your continued support of our community this year. Donations to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund help us meet the needs of patients and families while keeping our care team members safe and healthy at this unprecedented time.

Together, we continue to create hope and build healthier futures.

SAVING LIVES IS IN EVERYONE’S HANDS.Thank you to the generous community members and philanthropic partners who have supported Children’s Hospital Los Angeles during this health crisis.


A transformative $25 million gift from the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation will carry on the couple’s

lifelong legacy of philanthropic support.

By Katie Sweeney

A LASTING IMPACT

Imagine Magazine | 5

Growing up, Robert E. Petersen learned a principle from his father that he never forgot. “If he found a $1 bill in the morning, [my dad] would spend the rest of the day trying to find the person who lost it,” Robert told the Los Angeles Times in 1995.

That spirit of generosity made an impression on the young man, and giving back became a key focus in Robert’s life. Together, he and his wife,

Margie, provided extraordinary support to their community—including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Although both have now passed away, their legacy of generosity lives on in the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation. This year, the Foundation contributed $25 million to establish the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Endowment to support three of the hospital’s signature programs: the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, The Vision Center and Inpatient Rehabilitation Services.

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“This endowment provides an enduring investment in the health of the infants, children and youth that our institution serves,” says Paul S. Viviano, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “I am extremely grateful for this gift and for the Petersen Foundation’s incredible vision, leadership and dedication to helping all children reach their full potential.”

In recognition of this transformative gift, the main entryway at the hospital’s Sunset campus has been named the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Entry Plaza. The location honors the Petersens’ iconic place in automotive history: Robert launched Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines. He and Margie are also the founding benefactors of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Humble beginningsRobert’s love of cars started from a young age. Fittingly, he spent much of his childhood on the road.

Born in East Los Angeles in 1926, he was 10 years old when his mother died of tuberculosis. His father, a Danish immigrant, was a mechanic and taught him how to work on cars. Robert moved from town to town with his dad, who worked for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power crews that were building power lines across the Southern California desert.

In his teens, Robert worked as a messenger for MGM Studios in Los Angeles, then served in the Army Air Corps in World War II. In 1948, he borrowed $400 from a friend to launch Hot Rod magazine. It was a life-changing move.

Hot Rod became a phenomenal success, quickly growing into Petersen Publishing Co.—a publishing giant that included Motor Trend, Teen and more than three dozen lifestyle magazines.

Robert met Margie McNally, a model and actress from New York, in 1962. Margie had traveled around the world working on campaigns for such companies as Coca-

Cola and Ivory Soap. Robert proposed on their first date, and they married in 1963.

Margie became an integral part of Petersen Publishing. She served as Vice President, consulted on Teen magazine, created an in-house interior design firm, co-produced numerous automobile shows and ran the company’s restaurant, Scandia, during the 1980s. Margie later served on the Board of Directors for the Petersen Automotive Museum.

The couple had two sons, but in 1975, tragedy struck. Both boys—Bobby, 10, and Richie, 9—were killed in a plane crash. Twenty years later, Robert told the Los Angeles Times that the loss was something he and Margie would never get over.

Close to their heartsThroughout their lives, the Petersens gave tirelessly to support the Southern California community they adored, including gifts to the Petersen Museum, The Music Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and more.

FEATURE Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation

Margie and Robert E. Petersen

“They would be happy to know that this gift will help children from all walks of life

receive the lifesaving care they need.”

—GiGi Carleton, President of the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation


One of the causes closest to their hearts was helping children. The couple were longtime supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Margie served as a member of the CHLA Board of Trustees for a decade beginning in the mid-1990s. Robert passed away in 2007 at age 80; Margie died in 2011 at age 76.

Over the years, the Petersen Foundation, led by President GiGi Carleton, has been a steadfast supporter of CHLA. Its contributions include an $8.5 million gift to open a state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation space in 2015—the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center honoring Bobby and Richie Petersen—and a $2.5 million gift that same year for The Vision Center.

The foundation’s latest gift will support clinical care, research and education in The Vision Center, the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute and Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Research from The Vision Center has resulted in landmark discoveries and breakthrough treatments in everything from correcting eye alignment to treating eye cancer. Similarly, advances pioneered at the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute have led to dramatic improvements in survival rates and quality of life for children.

The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Endowment will fund numerous initiatives within all three programs, including recruitment, clinical care, capital needs and unreimbursed care.

“I am extremely grateful for this gift and for the Petersen Foundation’s incredible vision, leadership and dedication to helping all children reach their full potential.”

—Paul S. Viviano, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation FEATURE

“Through their transformative philanthropy and leadership, the Petersens dedicated their lives to helping children overcome obstacles of all kinds,” says Alexandra Carter, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at CHLA. “They would be so proud to know that this gift is supporting one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals in providing families and patients with the multidisciplinary family-centered care they need.”

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles treats the most vulnerable members of the community, including those covered by Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program). Many of the vital services CHLA provides are not fully

reimbursed by government or private insurance—and are made possible only by philanthropy.

“Mr. and Mrs. Petersen believed strongly in the hospital’s mission to create hope and build healthier futures for children, and they were particularly moved by the hospital’s commitment to treating underserved children,” Carleton says. “They would be happy to know that this gift will help children from all walks of life receive the lifesaving care they need.”

(Turn the page to learn more about the programs this gift will support.)

The Margie and Robert E.

Petersen Entry Plaza honors the couple’s place in automotive

history.


FEATURE Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation

SUPPORTING THE VISION CENTER’S LIFE-CHANGING RESEARCH

The Vision Center has expertise in treating the full spectrum of pediatric eye conditions and maintains a robust research enterprise focused on finding better ways to diagnose and treat these disorders. The Petersen Foundation’s gift will help support patient care and new investigations, such as a clinical trial for children diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a rare genetic eye disorder that until recently had no remedy. The disorder disrupts the retina’s capacity to respond to light, leaving patients unable to see in the dark or soft light. Over time, their eyesight can degenerate completely.

Today, The Vision Center is at the forefront of a groundbreaking surgical procedure for this condition that preserves a child’s eyesight. CHLA is one of only 10 institutions in the country approved to administer a drug called Luxturna, which is injected below the patient’s retina. The medicine essentially replaces the defective gene that causes LCA and triggers cells to begin producing the protein necessary for healthy vision. “I have never witnessed anything like this before,” says Thomas C. Lee, MD, Director of The Vision Center. “We now have a way to repair the broken part of the DNA, restore sight for something that was previously incurable and stop patients from going blind. It is truly game-changing.”

CHLA patient Monroe, 7, has undergone the gene therapy procedure, which was the first to receive FDA approval to replace a mutated gene responsible for an inherited disease. Before the treatment, her eyesight was failing and she had been designated legally blind. After surgery, Monroe’s vision began to improve significantly within a week. Today, Monroe gets to enjoy so much more of her childhood because of her renewed vision.

PURSUING INNOVATIVE CANCER TREATMENTS

The Cancer and Blood Disease Institute provides the highest-quality clinical care and conducts innovative research to find more effective ways to treat devastating conditions that impact children.

The generous gift from the Petersen Foundation will help support lifesaving care for patients like Pierce, who was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia when he was just 22 months old. At CHLA, he underwent two rounds of chemotherapy, 31 platelet transfusions, 15 blood transfusions—and had a bone marrow transplant. Although it was a difficult journey, Pierce was finally declared cancer-free. Today, Pierce, 5, is a happy-go-lucky kid who loves playing baseball, swimming and dancing.

“The Petersen Foundation gift will ensure that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles remains a leader in the field, grounded in our commitment to embrace innovation while providing holistic, multidisciplinary care,” says Alan S. Wayne, MD, Director of the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute and the Alfred E. Mann Family Foundation Chair in Cancer Research. “This heartfelt generosity brings us closer to the day when every child diagnosed with cancer or a blood disease survives—and thrives.”

PIERCE MONROE

The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Endowment will support three of the hospital’s signature programs.


◄ Left to right: Kevin Strauch, Jeffrey De Francisco, GiGi Carleton and Ted Calleton at the 2015 dedication ceremony for the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center at CHLA

Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation FEATURE

HELPING KIDS GET BACK ON THEIR FEET

The Division of Rehabilitation Medicine at CHLA is a national referral center for children who have severely compromised cognitive and physical function due to an illness or injury.

Thanks to a previous gift from the Petersen Foundation, CHLA opened the state-of-the-art Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center honoring Bobby and Richie Petersen in 2015. The foundation’s latest gift will support a variety of improvements—including acquiring the latest technology—to ensure the most advanced inpatient rehabilitation services are available.

DIOBETH“This endowment from the Petersen Foundation is going to help us tremendously by positioning us to continue providing the highest level of care for patients,” says Kevan Z. Craig, DO, who leads the Division. “We’re one of the largest pediatric rehabilitation medicine facilities in the country.”

The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center cares for kids like Diobeth, 15, who spent six weeks receiving physical therapy and speech and language therapy after undergoing brain surgery and later suffering a stroke. Initially, the teen was unable to communicate or walk, but after intensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care, Diobeth regained his ability to speak and walk and returned to high school.

“Our goal is to help patients return home and become productive members of society,” Dr. Craig says. “Thanks to the Petersen Foundation, we’ll be able to bring our full suite of support to all the children who come to us for care.”

The Fundación Teletón USA Gym in the Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center at CHLA


For years, radio personality Ellen K would drive down Sunset Boulevard and pass Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, but she “never knew the magic that went on behind its doors.”

In September 2016, when her son, Calvin, suffered a broken arm during a high school football game, Ellen got to see firsthand what CHLA was about. “From the moment we pulled up to the Emergency Department, everyone was so amazing and so calm and so ‘on it.’ It was incredible how they took care of our whole family,” she says.

As host of The Ellen K Morning Show on KOST 103.5 FM in Los Angeles, Ellen is never one to hold back from sharing the good and the not so good in her life with her audience. An emotional Ellen recounted the harrowing experience of her son’s injury, which required surgery, to her listeners.

To express her gratitude to the hospital, Ellen offered to broadcast her morning show live from the CHLA lobby on Giving Tuesday, the global day of charitable giving that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. During the show, doctors, patient families and volunteers were featured on the air, and listeners responded by making donations.

Since it launched in 2016, the event has continued to grow, with donations more than doubling each year. To date, Ellen and her KOST 103.5 FM team have helped to raise more than $650,000 to support the hospital.

Ellen KThe beloved radio personality—who hosts an annual Giving Tuesday broadcast at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles—shares her experience as a grateful patient mom.By Monica Rizzo

WHY I GIVE Ellen K


Here, in her own words, Ellen explains why Children’s Hospital Los Angeles means so much to her, and why she’ll never feel that she can do enough for the hospital that she calls “the crown jewel of our city.”

Ellen K WHY I GIVE

“I feel like Giving Tuesday has been a giant gift that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has given me by allowing me the opportunity to help out.”

—Ellen K

When you’re on the radio like I’ve been for the past 30 years, your audience becomes an extended family. You lean on each other as you navigate life’s ups and downs. That was the case when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wanted to use my platform to raise awareness about cancer and cancer research. As callers shared their survival stories on the air, it gave me hope to pass along to my mom. I believe that positivity was a factor in helping my mom beat breast cancer.

I had a similar feeling when we were at CHLA for Calvin’s surgery. All this time, the highest ranked children’s hospital in California was in my backyard, and I did not know about it because I never needed it. But when we did, wow!

I felt compelled to share the incredible things the hospital is doing, whether it’s research or breakthrough treatments. As soon as I told Calvin’s story on air, people reached out to tell me about the great care the hospital gave to their child, from beating cancer to receiving a heart transplant to learning to walk again. I realized the best way to show my gratitude as a parent was to give back and invite my audience—my community—to join me.

Giving Tuesday kicks off the season of giving. It’s right before the holidays, which is a time when no one should have to suffer through the season. We decided that doing a show on Giving Tuesday from CHLA’s lobby would allow us to absorb the hospital ’s energy and convey the caring, compassionate culture to our listeners, and talk with the doctors, nurses, patients and volunteers as they went about their day.

That f irst year we were so touched by the outpouring of support from our listeners, we couldn’t wait to do it again and again. Now it’s our favorite day of the year where we get to meet some amazing people who do amazing things and give back to this hospital that has touched so many. We create a little winter wonderland with decorations and invite people to come by and recount the inspirational things that happen at CHLA. Santa Claus even stops by to visit the kids!

Giving back is contagious. It attracts people who want to join in and give their love and time to help children and families. It becomes this treadmill of good that keeps giving. Calvin saw what I was doing and was inspired to become a CHLA Junior Ambassador. He and his fellow football buddies gathered up gadgets, toys and sports equipment they don’t use anymore and found a website that would lease their things for other people to use. All of the money they raised went to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

In recent years, other local media have joined us on Giving Tuesday, inviting their audiences to support the hospital, and it’s just gotten bigger and better. I want our event to continue to grow, and my hope is that people will think of CHLA beyond Giving Tuesday. I volunteer at the hospital a few times a year, and each time, I learn something new about the hospital and the advances it’s making in pediatric care.

I did what any mother with a radio show would do. In fact, I feel like Giving Tuesday has been a giant gift that Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has given me by allowing me the opportunity to help out.

Ellen K and her son, Calvin

▲ CHLA President and CEO Paul S. Viviano, Ellen K and Dr. Skaggs, Chief of the Children’s Orthopaedic Center

▲ Calvin (center), who held a fundraiser with friends, presents a check to his surgeon, David Skaggs, MD, MMM, to support the Children’s Orthopaedic Center. Looking on are Ellen and her KOST 103.5 FM morning show co-host, Ryan Manno.


EVENT Make March Matter

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles launched the Make March Matter fundraising campaign five years ago to engage local businesses, corporate partners and the community. The goal of this annual effort is to raise $2 million during the month of March to support the hospital’s leading-edge pediatric care. Since its inception, the campaign has continued to grow, attracting more partners—from local family businesses like Porto’s Bakery & Cafe, Project Social T and Alfred Coffee to corporations like Delta Air Lines, IHOP and Panda Express—and raising more funds to support world-class pediatric care.

In 2020, as our community—and the entire world—confronted the coronavirus pandemic, our amazing philanthropic partners rallied to fundraise through online shopping and more, bringing the total amount raised over five years to more than $8 million.

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF MAKE MARCH MATTERCorporate partners, family businesses and individuals have raised more than $8 million for CHLA since the annual campaign started in 2016. By Marla Lehner

◄ Members of the Panda Express team stopped by the KTLA studio to help inform the community about the annual Make March Matter campaign.

Singer Seal visited the hospital on March 6 to entertain patients and raise awareness for the Make March Matter campaign.

▲ CHLA patient Kennedy with her mom Marrietta Lanier and actress Danielle Fishel Karp

▲ Front row, left to right: CHLA patients Kennedy, Ella, Saylor, Elliott, Kairi and Pierce. Second row: Alexandra Meneses Simpson,

a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees; Dawn Wilcox, CHLA Vice President of Corporate Partnerships; patient Grace Rose; Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman;

actress-director and patient mom Danielle Fishel Karp; Alexandra Carter, CHLA Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer; and Paul S. Viviano, CHLA President and CEO

Patient families and special

visitors helped launch the 2020

Make March Matter campaign.


Make March Matter EVENT

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKESSince participating in the 2019 Make March Matter campaign, Kairi has undergone a rare, lifesaving double transplant.

In 2019, Kairi attended the kickoff event for the Make March Matter campaign. At the time, the 11-year-old was awaiting a rare kidney-liver transplant. Kairi’s journey over the past year offers a vivid example of the hospital’s ability to deliver hope and a healthier future to children.

As Kairi waited for new organs to replace her failing ones, dialysis treatments three times a week carried out the work of her malfunctioning kidneys, but the state of her liver jeopardized her life. Gastroenterologist George Yanni, MD, Kairi’s liver specialist, described the wait for a transplant as a ticking time bomb.

Throughout the strain of what turned into an 18-month wait, Kairi’s courage and poise never faltered, nor did her expectation that a match would ultimately come.

Consider where she is now. This year, Kairi, 12, again participated in the Make March Matter celebration, but something was different: She had a new liver and kidney.

Last July, Kairi underwent a 14-hour transplant surgery, performed by surgeon Kambiz Etesami, MD. The new organs saved—and revived—Kairi. For a long time, her condition caused her to be frequently bedridden, worn-out and glum. She now writes stories, plays with her dogs and swims in the backyard pool, which by family decree had remained off limits while Kairi was sick.

Dan Thomas, MD, Chief of Hepatology, says he has seen a total transformation: “She didn’t feel very well. Now she has direction, purpose. She feels good.”

Kairi’s life was restored thanks to our doctors’ expertise, her own courage, her family’s strength and the generosity of CHLA philanthropists. Through Make March Matter and other fundraising initiatives, supporters enable the hospital to provide lifesaving care to patients, making remarkable, inspirational stories like Kairi’s one of many at CHLA.

PATIENT PROFILE Kairi

Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman greeted patients and families during the 2020 Make March Matter kickoff event.

Designer Jonathan Simkhai and actress January Jones hosted a shopping fundraiser at Simkhai’s flagship store in L.A. on March 10. The event, which donated 15% of proceeds to CHLA, included a trunk show featuring jewelry by Coly Los Angeles.

▲ On March 3, Jimmy Choo in Beverly Hills hosted a shopping event and donated 20% of sales to CHLA. Left to right: event hosts Sharon Tesoriero, Alexandra Meneses Simpson, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees, and Ashley Tesoriero


A punch to the gut.

That’s what Michael Schenkman says he felt when he was told his newborn son had kidney disease. Just a week earlier, he and his wife, Elisa, had brought home a healthy set of twins, a boy and a girl. Now doctors were talking about renal failure and the need for a future kidney transplant for their 9-day-old son.

“It’s like having the wind knocked out of you,” says Michael. “You can’t breathe.”

While the Schenkmans’ infant daughter was fine, their son, Gabriel, hadn’t been eating properly and was constantly crying. A trip to a local emergency room yielded few answers other than the need for Gabe to stay hydrated. So the next day, Elisa and Michael took him to their pediatrician.

“After drawing his blood, she came back and said, ‘Gabe’s about to go into cardiac arrest. We have to go right now,’” recalls

Elisa. “She initially called an ambulance, but canceled it and just grabbed him, and we ran out of her office with Gabe in her arms.”

Gabe was stabilized at a nearby hospital, and the family was eventually referred to Carl Grushkin, MD, Head of the Division of Nephrology at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, who had trained Gabe’s pediatrician.

‘We need to help’For Elisa and Michael, the most difficult part about Gabe’s diagnosis was the uncertainty. They knew he would need a kidney transplant, but they didn’t know when. It could be when he was 2 years old or 20—it depended on how long his kidneys continued to function. But they trusted Dr. Grushkin, a leading expert on transplantation and renal disorders, and were confident in the care their son was receiving.

HOW ONE FAMILY TURNED A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVEAfter their son was diagnosed with kidney disease, Elisa and Michael Schenkman channeled their energy into finding a cure. Over the last decade, they have raised $8 million to support research at CHLA—and their efforts are paying off.

By Eunice Oh

“Once you walk into Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, it’s hard to ever go anywhere else,” says Elisa. “Every single person who works there has a heart of gold.”

The Schenkmans felt compelled to give back, especially after they learned that funding for kidney disease and much-needed research pales in comparison to other pediatric illnesses. “It’s not a condition that gets a lot of attention,” says Elisa. “So we said, ‘OK, we need to help.’”

In 2006, the couple started a letter campaign to their network of friends, family and business associates asking them to support CHLA’s Division of Nephrology. The donations began coming in, and Elisa and Michael decided to create a fund for renal research called GOFARR.

Their efforts soon turned into a family affair. The Schenkmans’ eldest child, Shelby, wanted to pitch in and set up a lemonade stand. Later, Gabe’s twin sister, Amanda,

From left to right: Elisa, Amanda, Gabriel, Shelby and Michael Schenkman


approached her parents with an idea to host an annual event that would help raise funds while also increasing awareness about kidney disease. Now in its fifth year, the GOFARR FunFest has become the family’s signature fundraising event, combining a bowling party, silent auction and food truck extravaganza all in one.

To date, the Schenkmans have raised an astounding $8.1 million. “Our friends, family and Michael’s business associates have really rallied behind us,” says Elisa. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”

Revolutionary researchWhile some of the money raised has gone toward renovating the Dialysis Center at CHLA and supplying gifts for hospitalized patients during the holidays, most of the funds have supported the GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology. The lab, led by co-Directors Roger De Filippo, MD, and Laura Perin, PhD, focuses on developing stem cell-based techniques to combat and potentially prevent conditions such as chronic kidney disease.

Thanks to the Schenkman family’s fundraising, the lab has been able to grow its team—which currently stands at 10 scientists—and pursue investigations that are making a significant impact in the field of kidney disease research.

Elisa and Michael Schenkman DONOR PROFILE

In one groundbreaking study, the GOFARR team developed the first physiologically accurate in-vitro model of the human kidney glomerulus, which acts as the organ’s filtration system. Derived from human cells, GOFARR’s model provides a more accurate way to examine how kidney disease affects individual patients and to monitor the disease’s progression over time.

This pioneering work was featured in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Communications in 2019 and has the potential to improve the lives of an estimated 40 million American adults and children who have chronic kidney disease.

“What’s exciting is that the money GOFARR donors have given has essentially become seed money that is now bearing fruit,” says Michael.

According to GOFARR Lab leaders, those outcomes are a direct effect of the Schenkmans’ support. “Their partnership has been invaluable and is the driving force behind our ability to advance renal research,” says Dr. Perin.

Hope for other familiesA few years ago, the Schenkmans received a call from Dr. Grushkin. He had the results of Gabe’s latest bloodwork, which indicated it was time to consider a transplant. After some testing, it turned out Elisa was a strong donor match. Five days before Gabe’s 15th birthday, Elisa gave

life to her son for the second time: She was wheeled into surgery at USC’s Keck Medical Center, where one of her kidneys was removed and then transported to CHLA to be given to her son.

“For me, it was incredibly emotional,” Elisa says about the donation. “I would give another kidney away if I could. I would donate to any child in need of one.”

Today, Gabe, 18, is thriving and getting ready to start college at the University of Texas at Austin. His parents know that a transplant isn’t a complete cure-all, but they are optimistic.

“We don’t know what the future holds. We could be in the middle of Gabe’s journey right now, or maybe just at the beginning,” says Michael. “What we do believe is that the GOFARR Lab will continue to generate amazing results. Our hope is that the research will have an impact on Gabe’s life and the lives of other children down the road.”

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles became an even more integral part of the Schenkmans’ lives last year when Elisa and Michael joined the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees. As members, they are committed to promoting CHLA’s mission and, above all, providing hope to other families.

“There’s this great balance that happens at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles between clinical care and cutting-edge research that you don’t find at many hospitals,” says Michael. “This unique duality attracts brilliant doctors and researchers who are committed to making children’s lives better.

“Even though our journey started out with devastation,” he adds, “surrounded by caring and amazing doctors, scientists, friends and family, we had the passion and fortitude to turn a negative into a positive.”

Elisa and Michael Schenkman

►Gabe recovered from his transplant surgery with his

mom at his bedside.

Jack Pettker, former co-Chair of CHLA’s Board of Trustees, and his wife, Vickie, recently extended their contributions with a generous planned gift. By Jeff Weinstock

It cannot be said that Jack Pettker, mild, slender and reflective, wears his heart on his sleeve. You’ll have to look lower. It’s on his ankle, in the form of a rainbow-colored tattoo, a rendering of two cupped hands, the former logo of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“I got it as a birthday present to myself,” he says, returning his left pant cuff to the neutral position. “I looked for a tattoo place on Sunset in Hollywood. I thought that would be a cool place to go. So I went and had it done—and then I told Vickie.”

Vickie, his wife, wasn’t so enthused. “I thought it was kind of an old person’s way to be hip,” she says.

While the hospital’s logo has since been updated, Jack’s commitment to the institution is as current as ever. Vickie and Jack recently committed to a new generous planned gift, their second, to support CHLA and are members of the Mary Duque Society, which honors donors whose lifetime giving exceeds $1 million.

SECURING THE HOSPITAL’S FUTURE


Vickie and Jack, an estate planning attorney, have been CHLA supporters for more than two decades. From 2006 to 2012, Jack served as co-Chair of the CHLA Board of Trustees and of the Living Proof Campaign.

The most profound achievement during his years co-chairing the Board with Marion Anderson was the construction of the state-of-the-art Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion. He recalls the day it opened in 2011, awed by the migration of patients from the old hospital building to the new one. “That was just an amazing experience,” says Jack. “One of the great things about it, the first patient to be moved into the new facility was a patient whose father worked for the contractor that built the new hospital building. His child was the first one.”

A life-changing momentVickie and Jack’s philanthropy at CHLA dates back to 1997, when their son was doing a summer research internship at the hospital. Without any thought of becoming donors, they were led on a tour of the hospital. When they passed through the cancer floor, Jack felt uplifted in what should have been the grimmest of settings.

“Even there you didn’t feel sadness,” he says. “You weren’t taken aback by what you were experiencing. There was a very positive energy. I just felt so inspired.”

Not long afterward, Jack was leading a fundraising group to raise support for CHLA’s cancer care. The hospital tour also marked the start of his ongoing admiration for nurses, to whom he has directed a good portion of his contributions over the years. He has been active with the Institute for Nursing and Interprofessional Research (INIR), serving as its Honorary Chair.

Vickie and Jack Pettker DONOR PROFILE

“Even there you didn’t feel sadness. You weren’t taken aback by what you were experiencing. There was a very positive energy. I just felt so inspired,” says Jack Pettker about his initial tour of CHLA.

“The doctors know about the heart, they know about the lungs,” he says, “but often you find with critically ill patients the nurses have an understanding of the whole patient, of a patient’s circumstances, and what the parents are going through.”

When he completed his term as co-Chair of CHLA’s Board of Trustees in 2012, the hospital’s nursing staff presented Jack with a statuette of a nurse holding a child. An African healing icon, the sculpture is typically awarded by the DAISY Foundation to nurses for their years of excellence. “I refer to myself as Nurse Jackie,” he says with a grin, alluding to the Showtime series of the same name.

Destined to support CHLA Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was the first institution that Vickie and Jack chose to support through ongoing, dedicated charitable giving. Many years ago, an experience there convinced them that they had chosen wisely. The Pettkers had a daughter born premature in 1970. She died only a day after birth as a result of Hyaline membrane disease, which creates underdeveloped lungs that can’t take in enough air.

As they were being led through The Saban Research Institute, their guide, David Warburton, MD, Director of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, showed them a tiny lung that had been grown entirely from cells. Jack and Vickie then shared

the story of their daughter, and Dr. Warburton revealed to them that he had developed a lifesaving treatment protocol for infants born with Hyaline membrane disease.

“You talk about things that are destined,” Jack says. “It just kind of fit. I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

Today, Jack, now a member of CHLA’s Foundation Board of Trustees, is busy conjuring new modes of serving that haven’t been tried before. At heart, he’s “a boot on the ground,” he says. He wants to be personally involved in improving the lives of CHLA’s patients and families.

“What do we call the people who go in and hold the babies?” he asks. “Cuddlers! I was thinking I would like to be a cuddler. Now I’m thinking, the parents who are in the hospital, they must need errands run for them, whether it’s going and getting them food, or there’s shopping they need to have done, but they don’t have time to do it. Could I just be at the hospital and available to do errands for them?”

Vickie looks over to him. “I hadn’t heard that idea.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice, something like that?” he asks. “My days of leadership are over. In some ways, I think serving like that may be more important.”


“The Epilepsy Foundation of

Greater Los Angeles enthusiastically supports

the work of CHLA and is pleased to provide funding through our Care & Cure Institute,” says EFGLA Executive Director Rebekkah Halliwell.

“Together we have made numerous strides in improving access to high-quality epilepsy care for children and their families in our region. We are grateful Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is our community partner in our fight to end epilepsy.”

Thanks to a generous gift from the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles (EFGLA) and its Care & Cure Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has a stable source of funding to train fellows, grow the Neurological Institute and create a stronger workforce of child neurologists.

The Care & Cure Institute focuses on alleviating the severe shortage of pediatric neurologists in Southern California and across the nation by funding training of the next generation of experts. To help achieve this goal, in 2015 the EFGLA, an affiliate of the national Epilepsy Foundation, gave $1.6 million to CHLA to establish the Pediatric Epilepsy Fellowship Program Endowment.

Q+A With the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles

A PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO LIFE-CHANGING CAREAn endowment created by a generous $1.6 million gift from the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles supports education for the next generation of pediatric neurologists.By Sara Nafie

What motivates EFGLA to support a particular program or institution?

Many of our board members, like me, have children who have epilepsy or have epilepsy themselves. We are part of the community. Fourteen years ago, my fellow board members, Mark Borman and Andrew Gumpert, both dads of children with severe epilepsy, realized there simply were not enough specialists to ensure children with epilepsy could be seen in a timely manner. They vowed to do something about it and created the Care & Cure Institute, which continues to be EFGLA’s greatest initiative. Because we know that early intervention is crucial to prevent and minimize the negative impact of epilepsy, we proudly fund the training and promising research of pediatric neurologists in our region.

How does CHLA help EFGLA achieve its mission?

EFGLA’s mission is simple—to lead the fight to END EPILEPSY®—and CHLA is on the front line with us. Dr. Deborah Holder was the first epileptologist funded through Care & Cure, and we are deeply grateful for her focus and dedication. By working together and helping to establish Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at the leading edge of neurology, I believe we will change everything for families like ours.

Q:

Q:

What is your personal connection to CHLA?

At 8½ months old, my daughter, Charlie, was diagnosed with infantile spasms, a rare form of epilepsy that is often devastating. We were lucky because Charlie’s pediatrician, Dr. Bess Raker, who had done her residency at CHLA, referred us there right away. Charlie is now 8 and seizure-free.

How did you become involved with EFGLA?

One of the first people we met at CHLA was neurologist Dr. Wendy Mitchell, and she introduced us to the Epilepsy Foundation. For many years, Dr. Mitchell was the captain of Team CHLA at EFGLA’s annual Walk to End Epilepsy. About a year after Charlie’s diagnosis, we decided to join Team CHLA to honor the hospital and raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation. About five years ago, I joined EFGLA’s Board of Advisors, and we still always walk for Team CHLA because they saved Charlie’s life.

Q:

Q:

Martha Haight, a member of

EFGLA’s Board of Advisors and a

grateful patient mom, shares what this philanthropic partnership means to her family and countless others.

CREATE A LASTING LEGACY OF CARE

Imagine Magazine | 19Imagine Magazine | 19

You can create hope and build healthier futures for our children. When you leave a

gift to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in your will or trust, you create a legacy that

ensures future generations can benefit from CHLA’s lifesaving clinical care, innovative

research and education. For your gift, you will be recognized as a legacy donor in the

Emma Phillips Society. We invite you to become a member of the Children’s Hospital

Los Angeles family of supporters.

To discuss including CHLA in your estate plans, please contact the Gift Planning Office at 323-361-2308 or visit CHLA.org/PlannedGiving for more information.


Bell and patient Ethan

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is strengthened by a community

of passionate supporters. From philanthropists and corporate

sponsors to grateful patient families and their friends, so many

partners help uphold our mission to create hope and build

healthier futures. The following pages highlight just some of the

events that have impacted how we care for children, whether by

bringing joy to patients at the hospital or raising awareness and

funds for our institution.

Winter Wonderland ►

On Dec. 17, 2019, the Jane Vruwink Palmer Healing and Play Garden at CHLA was transformed into a winter wonderland filled with festive activities and gifts. The celebration—hosted by Major League Baseball star Justin Turner and his wife, Kourtney, and designed by celebrity event planner Mindy Weiss—welcomed more than 250 patients and their families, who enjoyed a photo booth, hot chocolate, face painting and more.

◄ ‘Frozen 2’ Visit

Actress Kristen Bell visited CHLA on Dec. 10, 2019, when she and several Disney animators spent time with patients and treated them to a screening of “Frozen 2.” The event was part of The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to deliver comfort and inspiration to children facing serious illness.

Justin and Kourtney Turner with Santa Claus

Patient JJ with Disney animator Trent CorryeKristen Bell and patient Autumn

Winter wonderland characters with CHLA patient Kimberlyn

Animators Trent Corrye, Hyun Min Lee and Dan Abraham sharing their character illustrations

Let it snow!


CHLA HAPPENINGS

▲ CHLA Junior Ambassadors at the annual Celebration Day at Universal Studios Hollywood

Junior Ambassadors Celebration Day ►

The Junior Ambassadors are young philanthropists passionate about doing good deeds and fundraising for CHLA. To recognize these inspirational kids and teens, Junior Ambassadors Celebration Day was held on Nov. 16, 2019, at Universal Studios Hollywood, where the young Ambassadors enjoyed a delicious brunch and spent the day with their families at the theme park. Attendees raised a minimum of $500, with many raising $1,000 or more in support of CHLA. The funds marked another successful fundraising effort, in addition to the group’s Action Day the month before, which raised $100,000 thanks to a matching gift from The Simms Family Foundation.

Left to right: Bella Garcia and Tara Rauenswinder

Left to right: Saira Rahemtulla, Madison Schumer, Dylan Schumer and Javen Rahemtulla

Haley and Zac Nelson with their dad, Matt

Maya Turun Justin Meyer and his mom, Melissa

Julia Isaacs and her mom, LeahLeft to right: Chelsea, Bethany and Anthony Nazareno

Left to right: Molly Vrooman, Tessa Scharff and Joanna Wong


CHLA HAPPENINGS

Discover CHLA

The latest Discover CHLA speaker series, which highlights clinical care and research advances in pediatric medicine, focused on the Heart Institute and the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Hosted by CHLA President and CEO Paul S. Viviano and moderated by Foundation Trustee Mary Hart, the Nov. 19, 2019, event featured Heart Institute co-Directors Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, and Paul F. Kantor, MBBCh, MSc, FRCPC, as well as the hospital’s Pediatrician-in-Chief and Pasadena Guild Chair, Robert E. Shaddy, MD. At the Feb. 26, 2020, presentation, Jennifer Raymond, MD, MCR, Chief of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, was joined by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees, to discuss diabetes care for children and adolescents.

◄ Left to right: Mary Hart, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees, Vaughn Starnes, MD, Robert Shaddy, MD, and Paul Kantor, MBBCh, MSc, FRCPC

Left to right: CHLA Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer Alexandra Carter; CHLA President and CEO Paul S. Viviano; and Jeffrey Worthe, Chair of the CHLA Board of Directors and a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees

Left to right: Heart Ambassadors Betty, Eileen and Carlos Garrido

Left to right: Kjell Hult, MD, Peggy Galbraith, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees, and Kate Galbraith Hult

Left to right: Greg Meidel, CHLA Foundation Trustee Nancy Caroline Meidel and Dr. Starnes

Left to right: James, Dan, Stephenie and William Lievense; Craig Baker, MD


CHLA HAPPENINGS

▲ Left to right: Paul S. Viviano, CHLA Foundation Trustee Stephanie Beck Bronfman, MD, and Jeremy Bronfman

Left to right: Dr. Shaddy, Sugar Ray Leonard and Paul S. Viviano

Left to right: Robert Shaddy, MD, CHLA Foundation Trustee Elisa Schenkman and Mitchell E. Geffner, MD, Chief Emeritus of the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

► Left to right: Preston Blankenship, CHLA Foundation Trustee Yvonne Niami, Sugar Ray Leonard and CHLA Foundation Trustee Sheri Sani

Left to right: Sugar Ray Leonard, CHLA Foundation Trustee Nancy Caroline Meidel and Greg Meidel

Left to right: Jennifer Raymond, MD, MCR, and Kevin Brogan, Chair of the Foundation Board of Trustees

Left to right: Endocrinology Ambassadors Liz Jokanovic, Mirko Jokanovic and Lucy Broadbent

Left to right: Dr. Raymond, CHLA Foundation Trustee Brooke Anderson and Randy Ferguson


CHLA HAPPENINGS

The Saban Research Institute Dinner ►

On Feb. 26, 2020, CHLA Board members, leadership and philanthropists gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking research being conducted at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The intimate dinner was hosted at the home of longtime CHLA supporters Cheryl and Haim Saban.

► Left to right: Cheryl Saban, PhD, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees;

Haim Saban; and Pat Levitt, PhD, CHLA Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Director of The

Saban Research Institute and the Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics

Left to right: Jeffrey Worthe, Chair of the CHLA Board of Directors; Gabe Greenbaum, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees; Kristin Worthe; Paul S. Viviano, CHLA President and CEO; and Burt Sugarman

Left to right: CHLA Foundation Trustees Michael Schenkman and Bede Broome, MD, PhD; Audrey Broome; Emma Greenbaum; and CHLA Foundation Trustee Gabe Greenbaum

Left to right: Blaine Fetter; Mary Adams O’Connell and Nancy Caroline Meidel, both members of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees; and Paul S. Viviano

▲ Left to right: Alexander Judkins, MD, FCAP, FRCP (Edin), Pathologist-in-Chief and Executive Director of the Center for Personalized Medicine at CHLA; Janice Toebben; and Gary Toebben, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees


CHLA HAPPENINGS

◄ Associates & Affiliates

For more than a century, the Associates and Affiliates of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have donated millions to support numerous areas of the institution. Today, nearly three dozen all-volunteer groups across Southern California host events throughout the year to raise funds and awareness about the hospital’s mission.

Pasadena Guild members Nena Brogan, Beth Price, Sarah Miller, Melissa Patterson and Katie Carey setting up the 2019 Treasures & Trivia rummage sale to benefit CHLA

The Gabriel C. Duque, Jr. Memorial Trophy presentation at the Peninsula Committee’s 2019 Portuguese Bend National Horse Show. Left to right: Deepa Bhojwani, MD; Bonnie McClure, a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees and Chair of the Associates and Affiliates; Lisa Gentry, 2019 Peninsula Committee President; winning rider Nicole Lean; and Blake, Andrika and Bill King

Antelope Valley Guild members helping to serve dinner at the 2019 golf tournament. Left to right: Carol Gee, Pam Lockwood, Bonnie Deardorff, Linette Hodson, Nellie Thomas and Jody Pontious

The 2019 Westside Guild Luncheon of Hope raised funds for CHLA. Left to right: Karen Goldberg, 2019 Westside Guild President; Zaheeda Rahemtulla, Westside Guild Benefit co-Chair; Nancy Caroline Meidel, Westside Guild Benefit co-Chair and a member of the CHLA Foundation Board of Trustees; actress Nikki DeLoach, a Foundation Trustee; and Bonnie McClure, CHLA Foundation Trustee and Chair of the CHLA Associates and Affiliates

The annual Westside Guild Luncheon of Hope was decorated with flowers to match the event’s theme, “Where Hope Grows, Miracles Blossom.” Left to right: CHLA Junior Ambassadors Dylan and Madison Schumer, Shira Josephson, Saira Rahemtulla, Caroline Fleiss, Blake Meidel, Benji Fleiss, Javen Rahemtulla and Oliver Eshagoff


“Distance running and my work as a nurse practitioner have been two great cornerstones in my life. Running the L.A. Marathon this year while having a chance to support CHLA at the same time felt like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

—Chelsea Balian, CHLA nurse

CHLA HAPPENINGS

Los Angeles Marathon ►

This year for the first time, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was an official charity partner for the Los Angeles Marathon. On March 8, 2020, a total of 65 runners from Team CHLA participated in the annual event and helped raise more than $259,000 to support the hospital.

Members of the CHLA Foundation encourage runners in the CHLA Cheer Zone. Left to right: Emma Standring-Trueblood, Michael Sandler, Jillian Green, Matt Semler and Veronica Soltero

JP LeVeque (left) created Team Bash to raise money in honor of his nephew, Sebastian, who received care at CHLA. LeVeque is joined by friends (left to right) Vince Korth, Conor Taniguchi and Dan Cichocki.

Half-marathon runners Julie Halverson and Erin Cockrill demonstrate their CHLA pride before the race begins.

Team CHLA runner Annie Cornforth snaps a selfie as she nears the CHLA Sunset campus.

In all, Team Bash raised $195,000 for the hospital. Some of the team members included (left to right) Robyn Taniguchi, JP LeVeque, Dan Cichocki, Hannah Grubbs, Conor Taniguchi and Taejo Kim.

◄ CHLA nurse Chelsea Balian with her husband, Chris, daughter Annelie (holding the sign) and son Everett.


To ensure the safety of patients, families, team members and supporters

during the COVID-19 pandemic, CHLA has enacted new protocols.

Through virtual events, we are using technology to continue to support

our patients and connect with the community in new ways.

◄ James Marsden and Ben Schwartz talk Sonic with Emilio

On April 27, “Sonic the Hedgehog” stars James Marsden and Ben Schwartz were interviewed by CHLA patient Emilio, who practiced his talk show host skills by peppering the actors with questions.

◄ Natalie Portman reads CHLA’s COVID-19 book

Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman recorded a reading of “Careless Corny: A Cautionary Tale,” a book by CHLA experts that explains the coronavirus in kid-friendly language and pictures. Download your free digital copy at CHLA.org/CarelessCornyBook

Walk and Play L.A. ►

This year, CHLA’s annual Walk and Play L.A. fundraiser went virtual. The live-streamed event—co-hosted by radio personality Ellen K, Major League Baseball star Justin Turner and his wife, Kourtney, on May 16—included family-friendly entertainment and exercises. More than 16,000 people tuned in, and 1,000 participants helped raise $335,000 for CHLA.

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz performed a song during the event.Kourtney and Justin Turner


UPCOMING EVENTS

STAY IN THE LOOPThere are so many ways to support Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

We hope you’ll join us for one of the upcoming events that benefit the hospital’s world-class care.

Oct. 6, 2020

57th Annual Swing to Give a Child Hope Golf Tournament

Hosted by the Antelope Valley Guild, this fundraising event at the Crystalaire Country Club in Llano, California, features golf, lunch on the course, a buffet dinner, door prizes and more.

To register, contact Karon Blalock at [email protected].

Dec. 1, 2020

Giving Tuesday

Tune in to KOST 103.5 to hear radio host Ellen K broadcast live from the lobby of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and support the hospital on the day dedicated to giving.

Oct. 16-18, 2020

Treasures & Trends Virtual Sale

Don’t miss the Pasadena Guild’s Treasures & Trends online rummage sale, a massive event offering gently used and vintage finds, from home goods to fine art and more—all to benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

For more information, visit PasadenaGuild.org.

Sept. 2020

Malibu Triathlon Online

Support pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

For more information, visit MalibuTri.com.

Oct. 3, 2020

The Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala

The hospital’s signature biennial event celebrates philanthropists, organizations and community members who support expert pediatric care at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Visit CHLAGala.org for more information.

CHLA is committed to maintaining a healthy, safe environment and prioritizes the well-being of the community. At the time of this issue’s printing, the events listed here are scheduled to proceed. We will continue to monitor the novel coronavirus pandemic and will follow the guidance of government entities. Scheduled events may change based on the latest recommendations.

Top 5 in the U.S.

Ranked in All 10 Specialties

Highest-ranked Children’s Hospital in California

No one in Southern California has more expertise treating children than us. With in-office appointments

and virtual visits, we are here for your family.

THE BEST CARE FOR KIDS IN CALIFORNIA.

Find a doctor at CHLA.org


HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP

Executive Leadership Paul S. VivianoPresident and Chief Executive Officer

Robert Adler, MD, MSEdChief Medical Director, CHLA Health System; Senior Advisor to the Chair of Pediatrics (CHLA); Professor of Pediatrics (USC)

Alexandra Carter, MBA, CFRESenior Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Ronald Ferdman, MDChief of Staff; Interim Chief, Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (CHLA); Associate Professor of Pediatrics (USC)

Steve R. Garske, PhD, MScSenior Vice President and Chief Information Officer

Larry J. Harrison, MPH, MBAChief Executive Officer, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group

Cynthia S. Herrington, MDVice President, Executive Director, Gender Equity; Program Director, Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship; Surgical Director, Heart Transplant Program (CHLA); Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery (USC)

Alexander R. Judkins, MD, FCAP, FRCP (Edin)Pathologist-in-Chief; Executive Director, Center for Personalized Medicine; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (CHLA); Professor (Clinical Scholar) and Vice Chair, Department of Pathology (USC)

Matthew Keefer, MD President, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group;Chief Medical Informatics Officer (CHLA);Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Clinician Educator (USC)

Lara M. Khouri, MBA, MPHSenior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

Mark D. Krieger, MDSenior Vice President and Surgeon-in-Chief; Billy and Audrey L. Wilder Chair in Neurosurgery; Director, Neurological Institute (CHLA); Professor of Clinical Neurosurgery (USC)

Nancy J. Lee, MSN, RN, NEA-BCSenior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer

Pat Levitt, PhDChief Scientific Officer and Vice President; Director, The Saban Research Institute; Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics (CHLA); W.M. Keck Provost Professor of Neurogenetics (USC)

M. Scott Lieberenz, MSA, CPASenior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Barry Markovitz, MD, MPHChair, Department of Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine (CHLA); Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Anesthesiology (USC)

Marvin D. Nelson Jr., MD, MBA, FACRRadiologist-in-Chief; Chair, Department of Radiology; John L. Gwinn Professor of Radiology (CHLA); Professor of Radiology (USC)

Grace E. Oh, JD, MBASenior Vice President and General Counsel

Robert E. Shaddy, MDPasadena Guild Chair; Pediatrician-in-Chief; Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs (CHLA); Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics (USC)

James E. Stein, MD, MSc, FACS, FAAPSenior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; Ford Theodore Miller Murphy Chair in Surgical Oncology (CHLA); Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery (USC)

Mamoon Syed, MHASenior Vice President and Chief People Officer

Foundation Senior Leadership Alexandra Carter, MBA, CFRE Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Candie Davidson-GoldbronnAssociate Senior Vice President, Development

Ken Dolbashian Associate Senior Vice President, Planned Giving

Melissa Do Vale Associate Senior Vice President, Development

Terry Green Associate Senior Vice President, Development

Francesca Overwater, MSc Vice President, Foundation Strategy

Tina Pakfar, ML, DPPD Associate Senior Vice President, Development

Anna Weiser, MA Vice President, Foundation Relations

Dawn WilcoxVice President, Corporate Partnerships


JEFFREY WORTHEChair


Alexandra CarterSenior Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Trustees Ashwin AdarkarRobert Adler, MD, MSEdByron AllenBrooke AndersonJune BantaDiana M. Bontá, RN, DrPHAnoosheh BostaniKevin H. BroganStephanie Beck Bronfman, MDBede Broome, MD, PhDAmanda Countner BrownGeorge H. BrownJudy Gawlik BrownTrisha CardosoJay CarsonAlexandra CarterAlex Chaves, Sr.Alex Martin Chaves Martha N. Corbett*Robert J. CouryNikki DeLoachMichael S. DreyerMichael EpsteinCheryl Kunin FairLynda Boone FetterDeborah A. Freund, PhDPhilippe Friedlich, MD, MSEpi, MBAMargaret Rodi GalbraithRanjan Goswami

KEVIN H. BROGANChair

Gabe GreenbaumCarl Grushkin, MDMary HartKimberly HegardtPeter HeilbronMarcia Wilson HobbsSkye HoppusJihee HuhWilliam H. HurtKaren Kay Imagawa, MDAlexander R. Judkins, MD, FCAP, FRCP (Edin)Karen B. KaplanCaroline KeckLara KhouriArnold J. KleinerKathleen McCarthy KostlanMark D. Krieger, MDErik J. LarsonBarbara R. LeanseNancy J. Lee, MSN, RN, NEA-BCThomas C. Lee, MDSugar Ray LeonardBurt LevitchPat Levitt, PhDBecky LythgoeCarol MancinoBarry Markovitz, MD, MPHChristopher C. Martin, FAIABonnie McClureNancy Caroline MeidelAlexandra Meneses SimpsonCaryll Sprague MingstEugene MitchellTodd E. MolzJudith G. MunzigMarvin D. Nelson, MD, MBA, FACRYvonne NiamiWalter W. Noce Jr. Mary Adams O’ConnellJennifer PageLaurence E. Paul, MDJoan A. PaydenJohn D. PettkerSandra PhamChester J. Pipkin

Byron PollittTeresa PollittRonald S. PreissmanElisabeth Hunt PriceKathryn PurwinElizabeth Estrada RahnMatthew RechnerDayle I. RoathEllen S. RobbinsStephen D. RountreeAllan M. RudnickCheryl Saban, PhDTheodore R. SamuelsSheri SaniScott M. SantoroJonathan SchaefferPaul M. SchaefferElisa SchenkmanMichael SchenkmanRobert E. Shaddy, MDKimberly ShepherdAdam H. SherVictoria Simms, PhDDavid L. Skaggs, MD, MMMVaughn A. Starnes, MDJames E. Stein, MD, MSc, FACS, FAAPLisa StevensStender E. Sweeney II James TerrileGary L. ToebbenJoyce Bogart TrabulusAlia TutorPaul S. VivianoJohn B. WagnerJanis Black WarnerEric C. WassermanAlan S. Wayne, MDRoberta G. Williams, MDGrant WithersJeffrey WortheJill Black ZalbenRobert A. Zielinski

Honorary TrusteesPeggy Tsiang Cherng, PhD Ernest O. EllisonJames M. GalbraithWalter B. Rose

BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

*In memoriam


DirectorsDiana M. Bontá, RN, DrPHKevin H. BroganGeorge H. Brown Cheryl Kunin FairMatthew Keefer, MD Mark D. Krieger, MDBurt LevitchChristopher C. Martin, FAIATodd E. MolzLaurence E. Paul, MDByron Pollitt Elisabeth Hunt PriceRobert E. Shaddy, MDKimberly ShepherdAlia TutorPaul S. VivianoJeffrey Worthe

Honorary DirectorsMarion Anderson (co-Chair and Director Emeritus) Ernest O. EllisonMary HartWilliam H. HurtKathleen McCarthy KostlanCheryl Saban, PhD

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Los Angeles, CA 90027-0980

Nothing is more important than your children’s health. That was true before COVID -19 and it’s still true now. Don’t wait to get your kids the

care they need, including vaccinations, well-child visits and more.

With in-office appointments and virtual visits, we are here for your family. Visit CHLA.org.

YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH IS ESSENTIAL.

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The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation

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Transcript of The Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation